Cleaning apparatus



Oct. 31, 1939. J, D KELLY 217K987 CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 31, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR lo 0v D. KELLY.

BYE: J6,

ATTORNEY J. D. KELLY CLEANING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 31, 1936 INVENTQR (/OHN D. KELLY.

ATTORNEY iPatentel i Oct. 31

UNITED STATES. PATENT; OF

paratus and more other floor coverings. v One object of the of distributing together with means' e cleaning device brush it from the compartment FICE 2,177,987 cLEANmo arramrus John D. Kelly, New York. N. Y., aasignor of onehalf to William Werner, New York, N. Y.

Application January 31, 1936, Serial-No. 61,670 g Claims. (01. 15-123) 'The present invention relates to cleaning apparticularly to such apparatus intended primarily for cleaning carpets and.

invention is the provision a cleaning apparatus including means for the cleaning fluid over the surface to be cleaned and for scrubbing said surface, for withdrawing the used the invention 'is the proof suction means for withthe invention is to provide including brush and suca vacuum tight the suction ele-,

the surface.

cost, a cleaning appain operation.

hereinafter 1 appear, are

described with reference to view of the brush and viewon-the line 3-3 of brush is preferably mounted, wheeled base or truth It. includes ascrubbing cleaning fluid.

Another object of vision'in a cleaning apparatus in which a cIeaning liquid is utilized drawing the used cleaning liquid from the surface in order to hasten the drying thereof and toimprove the cleaning action of the apparatus;

A further object of a cleaning apparatus tion elements organized in relation to each other on a frame in such manner that engagement is obtained between ments' and the surface to be cleaned, which engagement is maintained duringthe movement of the brush in cleaning A yetfurther object of the invention is generally to provide, at low ratus of the class described which is simple in construction and effective The above objects of the invention,- and other '30 objects which might attained by the construction and organization of parts hereinafter the accompanying drawings forming a part of the present specification. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cleaning apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 isa perspective suction elements mounted on the frame, with the housing removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a Fi 1; e r Fig. 5 is a sectional .view on the line 55 of we. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of and associated suction elements, illustrating a modification. Referring to the drawings in detail, the clean-' ing apparatus comprises a cleaning device I I and a liquid tank I2 which 56 as here shown,-on a to which cleaning liquid is supplied liof the tank l2 through suitable length, connected xtends longitudinally of a ment IE to the brush l4 valves 26 and 28 on the by the brush and distributed the latter being connected by of suitable length to the compartment 40 of plingsor hollow handle 22 and projects through the head of the brush in communication with perforated tubes 24 arranged on the under surface of the brush head between tufts of the brush bristles. The flow of cleaning liquid from the compartmay be controlled by respectively. 7

In cleaning floor carpets, especially in hotels, stores and ofiice buildings, quick drying of the 'carpe'tsis ofgreat importance in order to avoid tank I! and pipe 20,

as much as possible interference with the nor- 7 mal use of the floors which are covered with said carpets. For this reason, among others, it is desirable to remove the used cleaning fluid from the carpets after the same hasbeen applied over the surface to be'cleaned. Also, better results are obtained and the cleaning action is improved by the constant removal of used cleaning liquid while new liquid is supplied during the process of the cleaning. This is. accomplished, in accordance with the present invention, by providing the cleaning device Ill with suction members 36 comprising elongated suction nozzles here shown as tubular members positioned adjacent the brush ll on opposite sides andiextending longitudinally for substantially the full length thereof. The

suction members 30 are provided with narrow inlet slots 32 through which the moisture is withdrawn from the carpet, and said members are connected to aheader tube 34 which is connected by a pipe 36 to the hollow handle 22, a flexible tube 38 the tank' l2. A vacuum is maintained in the compartment 40 in any suitable manner, preferably by connecting said compartment by means of a conduit "to a vacuum pump (not shown) or, especially when .the apparatus is used in hotels, to the vacuum system with which hotels are. usually equipped and provided with cououtlets on various floors and sections thereof. The vacuum connection between the cleaning device It and the vacuum tank 40 may be controlled by means of valves 44 and 66 on said tank and on the handle 22, respectively. By the arrangement of the suction members or nozzles 30 and the brush H, cleaning liquid can be supplied to the brush and applied to the carpet or other surface to be cleaned and constantly removed from said surface during the manipulation of the brush during the progres-' sive cleaning. action of the latter. In this 'mannerused cleaning fluid, carrying dirt and other foreign material removed or loosened by the brush and cleaning fluid, is constantly withdrawn by the suction members 30 thereby greatly improving thecleaning action of the apparatus and hastening the drying of the carpet.

An important feature of the present invention resides in providing means for maintaining a substantial vacuum tight engagement of the suction nozzles 30 with the surface to be cleaned however, being held against the surface to be cleaned with a varying degree of pressure depending upon the condition and character of the carpet on the floor. The arrangement provlded for accomplishing this purpose comprises a rigid metal frame including a U-shaped member having its ends I shaped metal straps 52 which straddle the brush l4 and have downturned end portions rigidly fastened to the suction members 30, preferably by being welded or brazed thereto. The brush I is carried by the frame by means of flat metal springs 54 secured'at their ends to the cross member head of the brush, respectively,

the frame. The frame member 50 is directed upwardly toward the handle 22 and is provided with a socket 58 in which said handle 22 and the liquid supply pipe 20 are secured. Said handle and pipe are socket 58 by means of a clamping plate 60 fastened to the socket in any suitable manner as by bolts 62. The brush and suction elements 30 may be enclosed within a housing which may comprise a top metal plate 64 and a dependent peripheral skirt portion 66 of any suitable material which is preferably fiexible, such as canvas.

' Said housing is secured in position by fastening the plate 64 to the straps 52 as by screws 68.

In the form 'of the invention illustrated in Fig, 7, the brush I4 is resiliently mounted on the frame by means of rods I0 secured to the brush head and'slidably passing through openings 12 in U-shaped straps 52a which are similar to the straps 52. Helical springs 14 encircle said rods 10 and bear, on the upper surface of the brush head if and on the lower surfaces of said straps to'yieldingly press the brush 'in engagement with the surfaces to be cleaned in permitting the movement of the brush away from said surface so as not to break the vacuum tight engagement between nozzle and surface.

It will be understood that in this construction, as well as in the construction described above in connection with Figs. 1 to 65, inclusive, al-- though the spring pressure under which the brush is held in engagement with the surface to be cleaned is relatively strong, it is not sufllcient to overcome the weight of the device as a whole and hence cannot move the vacuum elements out of engagement with said surface, and that moreover, pressure exerted on the handle 22 in manipulating the device causes the suction elements 30 to engage the surface under pressure which may vary in accordance withthe pressure exerted on said handle, this being permitted by reason 'of the resilient mounting of the brush. on the frame. 7

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be surface, a suction nozzle bolted or riveted to U-' 56 of the U-shaped frame and to the in spaced relation, said springs being accessible externally of preferably removably secured in the understood that the same is capable of other embodiments and that in each of the constructions illustrated, changes may be made without departing from the essential principles of the invention. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the precise constructions herein shown or described, except as may be required by the appended claims considered withreference to the prior art.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Cleaning apparatus comprising a brush carried by said frame for engagement with a surface to be cleaned, means associated with said brush for supplyingh cleaning fluid to said carried by said frame in position adjacent said longitudinally of the latter, said nozzle comprising a slotted tube, said brush being movable in relation to said slottedtube in a direction at right angles to said surface whereby to maintain a substantial vacuum tight engagement between said tube and said surface during the movement of said brush in cleaning said surface and means accessible externally of the frame for supporting the brush in said movable relation.

- 2. Cleaning apparatus comprising a frame, a brush carried by said frame for engagement with a surface to be cleaned, a plurality of suction nozzles carried by said frame adjacent said brush, said nozzles being positioned on opposite,

sides of the brush adjacent the latter, said brush being movable in relation to said nozzles in a direction at right angles to the surface whereby to maintain a substantial vacuum tight engagement between nozzles and surface during cleaning movement of the brush, and means for resiliently mounting the brush in said movable relation comprising spring means secured .to said brush and frame and accessible externally of the latter.

3. Cleaning apparatus comprising a frame, a brush carried by said frame for engagement with a surface tobe cleaned, means associated with said brush for supplying a cleaning fluid to said surface, a plurality of suction nozzles carried by said frame adjacent said brush, said nozzles being positioned on Opposite sides of the brush adjacent the latter, said brush being movable in relation to said nozzles in a direction at right angles to the surface whereby to maintain a substantial vacuum tight engagement between nozzles and surface during cleaning movement of the brush, and means for resiliently mounting the brush in said movable relation comprising spring means secured to said brush and frame and accessible externally of the latter,

4,4 cleaning device comprising a frame, a brush, flat springs connected to said frame and brush whereby the'latter is resiliently carried by said frame, spaced frame members straddling said brush and provided with depending portions, and suction elements carriedby said depending portions of the frame members. I

5. A cleaning device comprising a frame, a brush, flat springs connected to said frame and brush whereby the latter is resiliently carried by said frame, spaced frame members straddling said brush and'provided with depending portions, suction elementscarriedby said depending portions brush and extending- 

